Episode 82: Wine Enthusiast Executive Editor, Susan Kostrzewa

While Steph works her way back to the states, we’re taking a week off to square away busy winter schedules. Few people, however, have a busier schedule than our guest who took time out of her day to chat with the Wine Two Five ladies a few weeks back. Chardonnay for breakfast? Yes please, and Susan tells us why it’s a great choice. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the smart, funny and talented Susan Kostrzewa, Executive Editor, Wine Enthusiast magazine!

Listen along!

This is a previously recorded interview with Wine Enthusiast Executive Editor, Susan Kostrzewa. We were so tickled that she took time out of her busy schedule to chat with the ladies from Wine Two Five. We’ve teed it up to release while Steph is working her way back to the US from Italy. Steph, we’re sorry about that whole economy thing, and we hope you’re having a Bloody Mary to dull the pain. Needless to say, we won’t be discussion what’s in our glasses this week, and perhaps some of you are relieved! But we had a lot of great subjects to chat with Susan about, so here we go…

Photo courtesy of Wine Enthusiast

Here’s a little bit about Susan and what we talked about:

Susan Kostrzewa is executive editor of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. She oversees the editorial direction of the print magazine, as well as all digital initiatives for the media company, and is a formal taster on the magazine wine tasting panel. Kostrzewa is the author of numerous food, wine and travel books such as Opus Vino, a comprehensive volume of worldwide wines and wine regions, Greatest Escapes, a series of books on literary travel, and Pairings, a guide on matching the eclectic wines and foods of the world. Before relocating from Sonoma to Manhattan in 2005, Kostrzewa was senior editor of Wine Country Living, as well as a contributing writer and/or editor for Savor Wine Country, Marin Magazine, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and several travel magazines. Some of Kostrezwa’s more recent interview subjects include: Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, Tyler Florence, Francis Ford Coppola, Samantha Mathis, Joe Montana, Eric Trump, and Andy Rourke.

Q1. Describe your typical day as an executive editor.

SK: Come in, review day’s emails which can be extensive…sometimes 50-plus will have racked up in one night. Usually I will meet with my senior editors in the morning to discuss pending projects or any issues, then will sit down to review layouts and circs for the upcoming issue. Much of my day right is now spent in meetings discussing the launch of numerous new Web projects we’re working on. Lunch is typically at my desk and a salad or something very unglamorous (welcome to the life of an editor)! Afternoons are often spent browsing online on competing or good sites for ideas, reading industry news or talking with our owner about various topics.

Q2. Why should people read Wine Enthusiast Magazine?

SK: Wine Enthusiast brings wine, wine lifestyle–and beer and spirits—to readers in an educated and modern way. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about the world of wine and you’ll have fun in the process. Plus we’re just a good read if you like engaging content, wine aside.

Q3. How does Wine Enthusiast Catalog compliment the magazine?

SK: You have the wine, now you need the tools to enjoy it properly. The catalog offers all manner (and level) of tool for the wine, beer and spirits lover.

Q4. What’s the most obscure wine or wine style that you’ve been into recently?

SK: I’m not sure if it’s obscure but I have seen then light with retsina (Greek pine resin wine) lately. A lot of it has to do with the better product coming out of Greece and the innovations in the styles being made. But even the old school stuff has really grown on me. It’s a link to the ancient world an so fascinating. And versatile.

Q5. Tell our listeners why they should drink Chardonnay for breakfast? Afterall, we’ve mentioned “breakfast wine” on our podcast a few times. And you’ve mentioned it on the winemag.com website under meet the editors.

SK: Because what a great way to start the day! No seriously, people drink mimosas and Bloody Mary’s frequently with brunch. Sparkling makes a lot of sense. But the food you often eat at breakfast—eggs, bacon, sausage—it’s all hearty food and Chardonnay can stand up to that. But it’s still “light” enough to be good when it’s early in the day. And it complements the food without drowning it out.

Q6. What are your interests outside of the wine world?

SK: I am a massive literature and music geek. If I hadn’t gone into wine I would have considered fiction book editing, teaching literature or writing for a music magazine. I’m also a scuba diver and snowboarder.

Q7. We ask all of our guests to share a funny or embarrassing wine story to let our listeners know that we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. What is your story?

SK: I am still slightly terrified of spitting into spit buckets. I always feel like everything’s going to end up all over me. More than once I’ve had to spit at a tasting standing up and leaning down into the bucket and had a bunch of the contents of the bucket splash back into my face. There’s no way to elegantly recover from that in public but thankfully most people have had it happen too and just laugh it off.

We hope you enjoyed our time with Susan as much as we did!

Also, be sure to check out the new Wine Enthusiast Podcast launching this week as well! Here’s a sneak peak at Episode 1!

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Check out the entire episode: